About two thousand people walked hand-in-hand through Amsterdam to protest against homophobic violence on Wednesday night, reports ANP.

The march went from the Dam to the Homomonument memorial at the Westerkerk, where protestors laid flowers.

It was organised after a gay couple was beaten up in Arnhem last weekend. The two men of 31 and 35 were holding hands as they walked across a bridge, when several young men cycled by and began to abuse and hit them with implements including bolt cutters.

According to one of the victims, they were targeted by ‘a group of six to eight Moroccan youths’ because they were walking hand-in-hand. One of the perpetrators has said the two men started the violence, and is reportedly making a formal police report.

After the attack, Dutch media called for men to walk hand-in-hand in a show of solidarity. Meanwhile, gay rights organisation the COC has called for tougher prison sentences and other measure to tackle an apparent rise in homophobic attacks.